NationStates Jolt Archive

A few miles outside the bay of Qingdao

Admiral Togo, Commander of the 2nd. Fleet, was pacing up and down his cabin on the Battleship Kongo. Just a few moments ago he (well, in his name at least) a telegram was send to the German Governor of Qingdao to surrender or face total annihilation.

Encoded Telegram to German Governor/Commander of Qingdao

The Grand Imperial Japanese Navy has gathered a “token” force outside of Qingdao. Surrender or face total destruction. If you surrender you’ll be treated with honor and respect.

Admiral Togo of the Imperial Japanese Fleet

A bit more to the east the transports had begun unloading their troops, this task will be finished in a few hours. Yet he still wasn’t sure…

He had ordered that once the landing of the troops was ready B squadron, minus the Battle cruiser and 2nd. Class Battleship should go back to Pusan full speed to transport the other division. Admiral Togo had also asked for the 3rd. Fleet to leave port and head north at full speed. It would be disastrous if the German East Asia Fleet broke through the corridor, although the Japanese Force was far stronger than the German Fleet.

Further North, the forward elements of the 3rd. Army had finished reconnaissance and the main body of the Army moved forward. The 1st, 2nd. Line Reserve Corps moved north towards the Korean-Manchurian border. The following message was send to the Chinese Nationalist Government.

Highly Encoded Message for the Chinese Nationalist Government, Beijing

The nation of Japan assumes that you are aware of the state of war
between the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary) and thus that you
see the danger of possible hostile elements so near to Japanese Home
Territory.

This is the reason that the Japanese Empire will attack all Central Powers
possessions in China and we’ll also secure Manchuria against any possible
hostile reaction. It is for the best of Japan and China that we’ll
cooperate together in peace, together against an Evil Form of Imperialism
preached by Germany and Austria-Hungary.

Failure to cooperate can result in serious consequences…

Emperor Taisho, son of Heaven, Prime Minister Okuma Shigenobu, in name of
Divine Ruler of Japan, Chosen, Formosa etc. etc.

At that moment, two Seaplanes took off to drop leaflets over Qingdao with a German and Chinese text saying that the forces and inhabitants would be destroyed utterly if they chose to resist. Every vessel outside the bay loaded their guns and aimed for the city and the harbors entrance, ready to repel any attack. The two submarines slipped into the bay to await any hostile reaction. If such an reaction would occur they'd attack immediately.

Further in the Pacific the convoy which is heading for the Mariana's is one day away from their destination, Saipan.

BUMP for German Reply

September 30, 1914

The German Commander stood atop an administrative building, surveying the men assembled before him, awaiting the coming storm. The 4,000 German soldiers who garrisoned the city of Tsingtao had been alerted of the impending Japanese attack. At first, scoffing the idea of Asian soldiers posing a threat to their mighty forces, Commander Fredreich dashed this idea. He told his men to be prepared, that the entire might of the Empire may fall upon them and if such happened, then they would have to stand together.

The Commander also made an appeal to the Chinese people, while they had lived under the oversight of the Reich, they still would be forced to fight for their freedom. The Chinese citizens, who had long hated the Empire across the sea, took to the lesser of two evils and began to report to Fredreich as a loose militia to defend their homes.

As a result, there are 4,000 German soldiers and about 8,000 Chinese militiamen preparing to stand off against this Japanese onslaught. There are also three warships in the harbor and another 12 which are fishing boats that have been converted for naval combat.

Commander Fredreich, hoping that peace could still be achieved, sent out this letter:

To the Emperor of Japan Himself,

I make this request, out of with the upmost respect for your Imperial Majesty. Your forces are poised to strike at this outpost of the Reich's strength. Politics are out of my control and I am aware that our forces are at war, but please hear my plea. I have long held this post, far from my home, for the glory of the Reich. Now, because of some obscure link in treaties, we find ourselves pitted against one another. I am not a man of the world, nor am I as great a leader as you, but I must stand against what you hope to do here. I cannot let my men know they wasted the last years of their lives. To abandon the defense of this city now, would make the last ten years of my life nothing. So I ask, please, cease this assault, in the name of peace. We harbored no ill-will towards your people. End this violence now, and my men will always honor your name. And if you deem it neccessary continue this fight, know that we will fight with honor.

May God Bless Your Soul.



Edit: Spelt "May" incorrectly.